4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[eggalp]

i am so worries about one of my hens, i wonder if anyone has any advice please. Yesterday i was in the garden and i heard a lot of wing flapping, so i turned around to see one of the hens rolling in a ball flapping her wings. It was as if she had fallen on her back and couldn't get back on her feet. I must admit i was scared and i just froze on the spot - i honestly thought that was the end. This went on for a few more seconds before she just got up and walked off. She has a scratch around in the grass and seemed back to normal. Is it possible for a chicken to just fall over onto her back? There was nothing around for her to trip over. I have had them since march and have not seen anything like this before. DH thinks she may of had an itch on her back and was rubbing herself on the ground to get rid of it - but i just cant see this myself. I am very concerned she may of had a heart attack?? Has anyone seen anything like this before?

[Egluntyne]

Could she have been dustbathing? It can look quite alarming if you are not used to it.

[eggalp]

Hi Egluntine,

 

i hadnt thought of this - i suppose she could have been dustbathing, it all happened so quickly. She was on the patio - normally they dustbathe in my borders, so it hadnt occured to me that this is what she could have been doing. She seems ok today, but i will keep a close eye on her. I just want her to be ok! I really panicked, i suppose i just assumed the worst!

[cluckingmad]

Hi eggalp,

 

Wouldn't be too worried, if it were a heartattack she would have been more distressed and for longer - if she went back to normal good and quick then she's probably fine

 

Two of my girls always seem to like todust bathe together, usually ends up with Maggie being rolled on by Esme!

[Janty]

Dustbathing would be my guess as well. My Dad once called me out of lessons to report that one of my girls was having a 'fit'. I rushed home after school to find them rather violently dustbathing. Dad was ready to rush them to the vets. He was embarrassed.

[AnnieP]

Let's hope this is the answer to the mystery!

[wombatally]

Sounds like dust bathing to me too

 

Honestly - I know what you're feeling, the first time mine did it I kept trying to pick her up and stand her up and she kept 'falling' over. I was all for a trip to the vet until my Dad turned up and explained. He thought it was hilarious, I didn't!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I made a point of telling people at my Hen Party recently about dustbathing (fits !) and also sunbathing (dead chickens !)

 

Very easy mistake to make, I did myself .

[eggalp]

oh my goodness it has happened again - this time right infront of my eyes. I am convinced this is no dustbath - definatley not.

This morning i opened the run as usual and they came running after me into the kitchen for their morning treat of hot pellets porridge. Ginger went to take a beak full and suddenly stopped, bent her head right back over so that her comb was pushed into her back, mouth wide open, and her legs gave way, she collapsed backwards on the kitchen floor and did some wild flapping for a few seconds - felt like ages. The other two backed away from the porridge, made some conerned clucking noises then when Ginger got up they all started eating again.

Although i dont want this to happen again i wish my DH could see it so that i know im not going mad!

I have searched google this morning for info on epileptic chickens, i havent found much so far.

[Groovychook]

Oh poor you... I'm not an experienced chook keeper so can't offer any explanation or diagnosis but it certainly doesn't sound like a dust bath to me... Hope you get some help from an expert soon...

[Groovychook]

Just wondering if you're any nearer to knowing what the problem is? Hope she's okay...